THE RED MENACE

Southland Times, Issue 18853, 19 June 1920, Page 5

THE RED MENACE

SERIOUS DEVELOPMENTS m caucassa BOLSHEVIK ADVANCE TO TiSFLUS (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) DELHI, June 17. Disquieting news has reached India from the Caucasus. In addition to the Bolshevik invasion of Persia large numbers of Bolshevik cavalry have advanced from Baku, going towards TilLs. Communications with Ti.;is are cut off Rejn'rts from there are conliiclin. It is uncertain whether the Bolshevik troops hate reached the town or not. A report is persistent that there has been a revolution in Tiliis, and that a pro Bolshevik Government is now established, the Bolshevik forces lately engaged in lighting Denikin are being collected and re-equipped near RustotT, and u is miended to move by rail to Baku, thence by road !•> Tabriz, whence an offensive against Persia will be launched. All the sir.all British detachments in Northern Persia are being ndieded at Kazvin which covers Teheran and British reinforcements from Mesnpotan:ia are journeying to Kazvin, when 1 arrangement* have been made to create a defcnsiw position. PERSIA AND THE SOVIET. EXCHANGE OF TELEGRAMS. Reiner's Telegram.-. i LONDON, June li). Prince Firouz explained to the Council of the 1 .eague of Nations the nature of the commumealions whieh had passed between Persia and Soviet Russia. It wa- shown that Persia had formally protested against the landing of Bolshevik I mops. ’I chiteherin replied in friendly term.', and added that order,- had been given for their withdrawal, iln view of the subsequent, events Prince iFirouz again telegraphed on May 12 to Tchitcherm, pointing out that the latest developments m Russia did not to inside 1 with the SovYt assurances, and adding that unless matters were pm rigid it would be impossible for Persia to enler into any tneudly negotiations with the Siviet. TURKS AND PUNJABIS. A TREACHEROUS ATTACK. I Reuter’s Telegrams, i CONSTANTINOPLE, June 17. A British outpost, consisting of a company of Punjabis, was surrounded by a superior force of Turkish Nationalist-* on the 1.-nid front. The British commander decided to withdraw, the Nationalist- commander agreeing not to hamper the retirement. The advam-e gu in! was allowed to pa-.- without mishap, but the abo iodists treacherously opened fire on the main body, wounding thir'y and taking an intelligence officer prisoner. Kemforremen's were immediately sent to the assistance of the Punjabis, while a British warship kepi the Nationalists at bay, shelling their positions. It. appears certain that Mu-tapha Kama! was much chagrined at the British barring bus way to Scutari, but whether he or the local 10111BiiUide." ordered the attack is unknown. BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS. QUIET MOMENTARILY RESTORED. C< t.VbTAXTi.N' \I.K. June 10. I Rescued June I*, 5..2U p.rn. l Admiral de ILmeek his gone to Ismid, ■when- two English cruiser- are ntvh -red. Seven thousand of Mu.-tapha Ixemai’s P>l- -- alia, lied :he Bri: i.-h hies. A Scottish regiment wa.- sent lo reinforce the British Kid for the in ■•maul quiet has boon restored. THE TURKISH TREATY. REVISION FAVOURED BY FRANCE t i'hTine's. l PARIS, June 17. ( Received June Is. .8.21) p.m. : France i.- despatching an official delegation to inquire into condition.* in Syria, Cilicia, and 1 Yn.-t am mople. The majority of tin- French Chamber favour revision of the Turkish Treaty. THE ALBANIAN REVOLT. ITALIAN ADVANCE FROM VALONA. AN ULTIMATUM. ROME. June iff. (Received June 18, 8.2 d p.m.i The Lallans advanced from Valona capturing odd in-urg- n!-.

An ultimatum v. as Os tied threatening war uni''-- the in.-nrgent - ,-mr rendered their prisoner,- and retired. This expired a: midnight. MURDER OF ESSAD PASHA. ALBANIANS GREATLY EXCITED. MASSACRE OF ITALIAN PRISONERS. LONDON, June IS. (Received June is, s._’u p.m. i The Daily Express' Geneva correspondent «tate- that it la reported that the assassination of E-.-ud i’a.-ha greatly excited Albania, where i: is attributed to Italian intrigues. People in Tirana, when they heard of the murder, mas-acred over -3-1 u Italian prisoner.-. Much anxiety is f-T concerning the fate of '.'11111) prisoners, most of whom were captured at Valona. MESOPOTAMIA. DISTURBANCES AT BAGHDAD. DELHI, June 17. (Revived June !\ 11..4(1 tern. 1 The indecision of policy in Mesopotamia ifi rapidly developing an acute situation in that country. Several disturbances have) lately occurred at Baghdad. A certain agitator delivering intlamniatory speeches was arrested. Crowds gathered at j mosque and elsewhere, collected arm-, and set our. to rescue the agitator. Rioting occurred when the police intervened. The number of casualties is not known. An armoured ear was attacked, and on a few shots being fired in reply the attackers disper.-ed. Recently several respectable Arab residents • : Baghdad have been attacked at Diet;! with -tones. An oil'miai communique warns disturbers that the Government will not fail to take the net e.-.-ary -i; o.- to keep l the peace. THE KRASSIN NEGOTIATIONS. BELGIUM AND JAPAN TO PARTICIPATE. Reuter's Telegrams. > LONDON, June Hi. It i- stated that the Belgian and Japanese Governments have deeded to join in the British conversations with Krassin. [The cable news in this issue accredited to "The Times” has appeared in that journal, but only where expressly stated is such news the editorial opinion of “The Times.Jl

A RUSSIAN CLEARING HOUSE. KRASSIN’S PROPOSAL. PARIS, June It). . (Received June IS, 8.20 p.m.l Krassin, in an interview, suggested that I the resumption of commercial relations with ■ Russia were po .side through a clearing house jat Copenhagen, ilitTerent European counj tries holding shares in a company with I Russian gold as a guarantee. He said that Russia had a wheat surplus of 2,500,000 tons, petroleum 5,000,000 tons, and also linen and large quantities of other necessaries.. GERMAN POLITICAL CRISIS, j CABINET NOT YET FORMED, 1 BERLIN, June 16. j (Received June IS, 8.20 p.m.l j Trinboru failed to secure a coalition ininj istry. Dr Mayer, Charge d’AHaires in Paris, 1 declined to undertake the formation of a j Cabinet. i LEAGUE OF NATIONS. | BRITISH PRESS CRITICISM. | AN INAUSPICIOUS BEGINNING. I LONDON, June 17. | The revived discussion on the question |of the utility of the League of Nations, to which the Nauru debate contributed, showed increasing candour and pessimism. | The Times in an editorial describes as a | pompous farce the League’s offer of mere sympathy to Persia accompanied by advice to the Persian Government to await the j result of Russia's promises. It is enough i to provoke world wide Homeric laughter fob ! lowing as it did the Hat refusal of the Soviet authorities to admit to Russia the League's investigation committee. The League merely threw upon the Soviet Govi eminent the entire responsibility which it j refused to accept. ’flu* Tiinr- believes that j only malice could involve and cripple the League in situations at present beyond its strength. Enough had already been don,' l j almost to kill it. The British and French must try to nurse and protect it while I awaiting help from America, j The Manchester Guardian suggests that | the Nauru debate weakens the authority of the League, to which ihe world was entitled j to look for assistance in the reconstruction work and maintenance of open doors, j The Westminster Gazette fears the ! League may be stilled in its cradle. It tie- ! dares that the Nauru Bill is stupid and unprincipled and says it creates a precedent for defeating the leading principle of the I League, anti offers our rivals a working I model for evasions. I